Braid securing method and means



May 18, 1943 D w, FENTRESS ETAL 2,319,220 BRAID SECURING METHOD AND MEANS Filed Sept. 9, 1940 Patented May 18, 1943 BRAD) SECURING METHOD AND MEANS David Wendell Fentress, Evanston, and Sidney John Hughes, Maywood, Ill., assignors to Chicago Metal Hose Corporation, Maywood, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 9, 1940, Serial No. 355,882

15 Claims.

This invention relates to means and methods for securing metallic tubing braid in position, more particularly in connection with the securing of tubing ends to coupling members, connections or the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide new and improved methods and apparatus for eifectively securing metallic braiding in position, more specifically in connection with the forming of a coupling connection or the like between a tubing end and a suitable coupling piece. More particularly, the invention provides means and methods whereby the tubing braid may be secured in position by means of electric resistance seam welding.

A further object of the invention is to provide means and methods for securing metallic braid in position, for example in conjunction with the formation of coupling connections or the like, which means and methods preserve the strength of the braid, form the braid in effect into a solid sleevelike construction strongly resistant to both circumferential and axia1 stresses, and provide for the maintenance of the braid ends in predetermined position insuring a smooth and clean end connection for the braid of minimum bulk.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in conjunction with braid securing means of the type stated, economical and readily operable means for encompassing the secured braid end.

within a sleevelike metallic body operable to cover and maintain the braid ends in position and further the production of a sightly and efiicient braid end connection. In accordance with the invention, as set forth in one preferred embodiment thereof, this sleevelike metallic body may take the form of a metallic ribbon wrapped around the braid end and secured in position simultaneously with the formation of the braid end welded joint, thereby providing for the securing of the braid and for the encompassing thereof in a single readily operable operation.

Other objects of the invention contemplate the arrangement of the sleevelike braid cover, where used, in such a manner so as not to interfere with the proper welding action between the sleeve and the braid and between the braid and the coupling piece or the like, and in accordance with one embodiment of the invention it is contemplated that the sleevelike metallic body may be provided with wrench fittings or the like permitting the sleeve to function as a part of the coupling piece connection.

Various additional objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein certain preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth for the purposes of illustration.

In the drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a general assembly view, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of a welding apparatus constructed and arranged for the securing of braid in accordance with the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, and taken on the line 2--2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the apparatus, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view, on a further enlarged scale, of the apparatus at the welding station, showing the welding wheels or rollers and the associated tubing and coupling parts;

Fig. 5 is an illustrative perspective view showing the coupling connection, during the welding operation and with the braid in partially welded condition;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view on the line 6-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of construction wherein the sleevelike braid cover is not employed; and

Fig. 8 shows a further modified form of construction incorporating a different type of sleeve or cover for the welded braid end.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, and first to the structures illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, it will be seen that the welding apparatus, somewhat diagrammatically illustrated, comprises a table [0, Fig. 1, suitably supported by legs or the like H and I2. The table carries a bracket IS, the lower end of which is provided with an opening to rotatably receive the tubing It with its associated braid IE to be welded. The upper end of the bracket is provided with a fitting l6 having an opening in which a rack member I! is vertically reciprocable, as best shown in Fig. 2.

This rack member forms part of one of the welding electrode assemblies. More specifically, the rack carries at its lower end a yoke l8 provided with an axle IS on which the outer electrode roller or wheel 20 is rotatably carried. To control the vertical position of the rack I1 and the associated electrode wheel, a manually operable handle 2! is provided. This handle is associated with a pinion 22 in geared engagement with the rack, the arrangement being such that rotational or oscillatory movement imparted to the handle 2| produces corresponding vertical positioning of the rack and outer electrode wheel 213. The rack is connected to one branch of the secondary of a suitable welding transformer diagrammatically indicated by the numeral 25, suitable insulating means (not shown) to this end being provided for electrically insulating the rack and its associated electrode assembly from the control handle 2! and the frame of the welding apparatus.

The table It] also carries a pair of brackets 30 and 3|, Figs. 1 and 3, for rotatably supporting a shaft 32, the end of which carries the inner electrode roller or wheel 33, as best shown in Fig. 4. The opposite end of shaft 32 is provided with a beveled gear 34 adapted to be driven from a cooperating beveled gear 35 carried by a drive shaft 36. The drive shaft is provided with a pulley 3'1 loosely mounted thereon, a clutch 38 in in or or d for nn cting r i con ing the driving connection between the shaft and the pulley, as may be required. Pulley 3 'l i s driven from an electric motor or other suitable prime mover 39 by means of a belt or the like 40, and the, clutch 33 is controlled by means of a control rod 4| associated with a foot treadle d2 pivotally mounted on the leg support I2. A spring 43 normally holds the control rod 4] in lowered position operating the clutch so as to disconnect the driving connection between the pulley .31 and the drive shaft 36. By means of the connections described, it will be seen that as the operator depresses the foot treadle 42, the control shaft 4| maybe raised, connecting clutch 38, and causing the inner electrode roller 33 to be driven from the motor 39.

It is to be understood, as shown in Fig. 1, that the inner electrode roller is associated with the other branch of the welding transformer secondary through electrical connection therewith, for example through the intermediary of the bracket 30, as shown.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, illustrating the position of the parts at the welding station, it will be seen that the coupling connection, in the particular illustrated embodiment, comprises a metal tubing Id of the flexible annularly corrugated type and an associated coupling piece or fitting 50' of generally cylindrical shape and provided with a threaded end portion It is to be understood that the fitting '50 may comprise an sort of tubing piece, end connection, or other member to be secured, in accordance with the requirements of the particular installation. The end Ma of the tubing may be secured to the end of the coupling piece in any suitable manner, for example by means such as set forth in the copending application of David Wendell Fentress, Serial No. 291,139, filed August 21, 1939.

The metallic braid t5, provided with tubing of this character for reinforcing and protective purposes, in accordance with the present invention is adapted to be electric seam resistance welded in, the coupling connection, and to that end, referring further to Fig. 4, the end l5a of the braid is adapted to be brought between the electrode rollers 29 and 33 in encompassing relation with the end of the coupling fitting 51. It will be seen that if the outer electrode roller is lowered, clamping the braid and the coupling between the electrode rollers 'Zdand 33, and current then passed between the electrodes, for example by the closing of the trans-- 75.

former switch, diagrammatically indicated at 53, Fig. l, a spot weld will be formed in the braid and between the braid and the coupling fitting. If the inner electrode roller is driven from the motor 39 during the passage of the current, an electric seam resistance weld will be produced extending circumferentially of the coupling connection.

Also in accordance with the invention, the welded end of the braid is adapted to be en- -compassed within a metal sleeve, as indicated at 54, Fig. 4, which latter serves to protect, finish and reinforce the end connection. In accordance with one preferred embodiment, this sleeve is fed to the welding station in ribbon form by means new to be more particularly described. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the electrode shaft 32 is provided at an intermediate point thereon with a gear 55. This gear drives a gear 53 which in turn drives a gear 57 loosely mounted on a feed roll shaft 58 and adapted to be selectively clutched thereto by means of .a clutch device 59. The gear 5? will be rotatably driven whenever the shaft 32 is rotated, but the shaft 58 will be rotated with gear 5'! only when manually operable clutch '59 is closed. Shaft 58 carries a gear 69 adapted to drive gears 6| and 62, the latter being associated with and secured to a cutter shaft 63, the arrangement being such that the cutter shaft is driven at all times synchronously with shaft 53. The feed roll shaft 58 is adapted to drive a pair of feed rolls 65 associated with the sleeve ribbon 54, and the cutter shaft is adapted to drive a pair of cutter rolls 85, also associated with the sleeve ribbon, and provided at one point on their periphery with cooperating cutting devices. It will be seen that when the clutch 59 is disengaged, the electrode shaft 32 may be driven independently but when the clutch is engaged the feed and cutter rolls 55 and 66 will be operated synchronously with the electrode shaft whereby to feed the sleeve ribbon it to the welding station and also periodically sever th ribbon into suitable predetermined lengths.

In the operation of the apparatus, the tube, coupling fitting, braid and the end of the sleeve ribbon 54 are first introduced between the electrode rollers, and the outer roller then lowered into clamping position by manipulation of the handle 2|, causing the parts to assume the posie. tion as illustrated in Fig. 4. As the clutch 3.8 is then closed and the welding current applied, a circular seam resistance weld will be produced, welding the sleeve ribbons to the braid and the braid to the coupling fitting, as indicated at 10 and H in Fig. 6. Also, assuming the clutch 59 to be closed, the sleeve ribbon 5.4 will be fed at the proper speed to the welding station andsevered by the cutter rolls v5B into a length producing a slight overlap of the ribbon ends a they are brought into encompassing relation around the braid. By disengagement of clutch 59, the electrode shaft 32 may be operated independently of the ribbon feed devices, and by this means it will be seen that if desired a series of spot welds or a circular seam weld may be produced between the braid and the coupling fitting before the application of the sleeve ribbon. Such a spot weld is indicated at 72 in the perspective view. ,Fig. 5, and may in certain instances be utilized: as .a

preliminary holding means for retainingthe braid in position during the circula seam welding operation.

Referring more particularly to ,Fig. :6, it will.

be noted that not only are the Welds as indicated at and H produced, but also the various individual wire strands of the braid itself are welded to each other, as indicated at 13, thereby forming the braid along the periphery of the weld in effect into a rigid sleevelike structure, adding to the rigidity and effectiveness of the connection. This Welding of the braid wires to each other takes place in an instantaneous manner without excess heating or deterioration of the metal fibers. Their tensile strength is preserved.

The ribbon 54 is preferably of sufiicient thickness so that it has the required body, but at the same time it is sufficiently thin so that it may be distorted by the pressure of the electrode wheel as indicated at 54a, Fig. 6, whereby to produce a localized area of contact with the braid and localize the welding area. If the sleeve were not deformable in this manner, incomplete welding might take place over an uncontrolled area substantially equal to the width of the ribbon. A ribbon thickness on the order of .020 inch may, for example, be employed where the ribbon is or such metal as stainless steel, a metal well suited for welding operations such as here contemplated.

The methods and means for securin the braid by electric seam resistance welding, in accordance with the present invention, are to be sharply contrasted with more cumbersome methods and means heretofore used involving attempts to mechanically clamp the braid end in the desired position. The present methods produce a positive bond, both between the metal fibers of the braid and between the braid and the coupling fitting and the encompassing sleeve. The strength of the welded connection is limited only by the strength of the welded metals themselves. The welding action, even as between the individual wire strands, takes place rapidly so that there is no detrimental softenin of the metal fibers or loss of tensile strength. There is no danger of undue heating of the metal parts, resulting in the detrimental softening thereof, such as is possible in brazing or soldering operations where flames, torches and the like are used. Further, no foreign metals are included in the connection which are subject to corrosive attack. The weldin may be quickly and economically effected.

In Fig. 7 an embodiment is illustrated wherein the outer encompassing sleeve, such as the sleeve ribbon 54, is eliminated. In the welding of the braid end, both as shown in Fig. '7 and also in the previously described embodiment of the invention, the circumferential weld indicated by the numeral 16 in Fig. '7 is spaced somewhat from the extreme end of the braid, thereby leaving a short extension of unwelded braid ends T7. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, these are covered by the sleeve ribbon 54. In accordance with Fig. 7, wherein the outer sleeve is not used, these end extensions may be trimmed off by a suitable lathe tool such as indicated diagrammatically by numeral 18. If desired, the line of weld may be coincident with the extreme braid end but it is preferred to space the line of weld somewhat inwardly from the extreme end of the braid, as shown in Figs. e, 5, 6 and 7, whereby to insure that the ends of the braid will not be squeezed out of position during the circumferential welding operation.

In Fig. 8 a further embodiment is illustrated wherein the outer sleeve instead of being in the form of a ribbon, as previously described, is in the form of a machined rigid cylindrical sleeve 80, provided on its outer periphery wth p lygonal shaping or projections 8| suitable for the reception of a wrench or the like. The inner bore of the sleeve may also be cut-away, as indicated at 82', whereby to produce a pair of welding surfaces 83 and 84 of limited width, localizing the welded areas for reasons previously described in reference to Fig. 6. In this embodiment of the invention the braid i5 is interposed between the sleeve and the coupling fitting, and the circu lar welding then effected to secure the braid in position as in the previously described embodiments of ,the invention. Preferably in this instance two circumferential welds, as indicated at 85 and 8'6, are provided. This double welding produces a firm connection between the sleeve 80 and the fitting 56, producing an integral construction so that a wrench may be applied to the sleeve forthe purpose of introducing the coupling fitting into screw threaded connection with a matin coupling element.

Claims to the coupling conn ction are being presented in a divisional application.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in'the specific embodiments and methods hereinabove set forth for purposes of illustration without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the precise embodiments shown and described but only as indicated in the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. Apparatus for forming coupling connections for metal hose provided with metallic braid, comprising a pair of electrode rollers, means for holding a tubing end and associated braid and coupling fitting in position between the electrodes with the braid in encompassing relation with the fitting, means for introducing a braid sleeve around the braid in encompassing relation thereto, means for moving the electrodes relatively toward each other into clamping engagement with the braid sleeve and fitting, and means for rotating at least one of the electrodes while passing current therebetween whereby to produce a circular seam resistance weld between the coupling fitting, the braid sleeve and the braid.

2. Apparatus for forming coupling connections for metal hose provided with metallic braid, comprising a pair of electrode rollers, means for holding a tubing end and associated braid and coupling fitting in position between the electrodes with the braid in encompassing relation with the fitting, means for moving the electrodes relatively toward each other into clamping engagement with the braid and fitting, means for rotating at least one of the electrodes while passing current therebetween whereby to produce a circular seam resistance weld between the coupling fitting and the braid, and means for feeding an elongated metal strip between the electrodes into superimposed position upon the braid during the electrode rotation whereby to cause said strip to be welded to the braid in encompassing relation with respect thereto.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein means is provided for driving the strip feeding means in synchronized relation with the rotatable movement of the electrodes.

4. The method of forming a coupling connection for metal hose provided with metallic braid, comprising arranging the braid in encompassing relation with respect to a coupling fitting secured to the hose end, arranging the braid and associated fitting between a pair of electrodes, and thereafter moving the electrodes relatively circumferentially .of the braid while passing current therebetween whereby .to produce a circular seam resistance weld between the braid and the fitting, and simultaneously weld the individual braid fibers together whereby to produce a rigid braid sleeve-like portion extending circumferentially of the fitting.

5. The method defined .in claim wherein .the braid is circularly welded at a point spaced slightly inwardly from the extreme braid end and wherein the braid fiber ends beyond the bounds of the weld are severed after the welding operation.

6. The method of forming a coupling connection for metal hose provided with metallic braid, comprising arranging the braid in encompassing relation with respect to a coupling fitting secured to the hose end, arranging the braid and assocciated fitting between a pair of electrodes, arranging a braid sleeve in encompassing relation with the braid and between th electrodes, and moving the electrodes relatively circumferentially of the structure while passing current therebetween whereby to produce :a circular seam resistance weld between the sleeve and the'braid and between the braid and the fitting, and simultaneously weld the individual braid fibers together whereby to produce .a rigid braid sleevelike portion extending circumferentially of the fitting.

'7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the braid sleeve is in the form of an elongated metal ribbon and is progressively fed into position between the electrodes during the welding operation.

8. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the braid sleeve is in the .form of a continuous annular sleeve pre-formed into annular-shape prior to its application in encompassing relation to the braid.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein means is provided for driving the strip feeding means in synchronized relation with the rotatable movement of the electrodes, and wherein selectively operable clutch means is provided for connecting the strip feeding means to its driv-' ingmeans.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein means is provided for driving the strip feeding means in synchronized relation with the rotatable movement of the electrodes, and wherein cutter means is provided for periodically severing the strip.

11. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the braid sleeve is in the form of an elongated metal ribbon and is progressively fed into position between the electrodes during the welding operation, and wherein the length of the metal ribbon is slightly greater than the circumferential extent of the welded joint whereby to provide overlapping ribbon end portions.

12. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the braid sleeve is in the form of an elongated metal ribbon and is progressively fed into position I between the electrodes during the welding operation, and wherein only a portion of the width of the ribbon is welded.

13. The method as defined in claim -6 wherein the braid sleeve is in the form of an elongated metal ribbon and is progressively fed into position between the electrodes during the welding operation, and wherein the ribbon is of relatively thin gauge, the ribbon portion directly engaging the electrod being deformed inwardly from the main ribbon body.

14. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the braid sleeve is in the form of a continuous annular sleeve pre-formed into annular shape prior to its application in encompassing relation to the braid, and wherein the sleeve is provided with reduced areas of contact for engagement with the braid.

15. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the braid sleeve is in the form of a continuous annular sleeve pro-formed into annular shape prior to its application in encompassing relation to th braid, and wherein said sleeve is provided with a central polygonally-shaped wrench-receiving portion and is Welded to the braid on both sides of said central portion.

DAVID WENDELL FENTRESS. SIDNEY JOHN HUGHES.

, CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,519,220. May 18, 1915.

DAVID WENDELL FENTRESS, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 26, for Fig. 1;" read "Fig. 5--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of December, A. 1). 19L 5.

Henry Van Arsdale, (S al) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,519,220. May 18, 1915.

DAVID WENDELL FENTRESS, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, sec-- 0nd column, line 26, for "Fig. 11." read -Fig. 5-; and that the seid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of December, A. 1914.5.

Henry Van Arsdale, (S al) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

